While Real Madrid Flounders, James Rodriguez Is In The Best Form Of His Bayern Career

Bayern Munich has opened an 18-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga after registering its eighth straight league victory with a 2-0 result against Mainz on Saturday, and it was Colombian attacker James Rodriguez again proving the side’s talisman with his second goal in three matches.

Remember when Real Madrid didn't want James anymore? https://t.co/le3eCDzWBw

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 3, 2018

Over that period, the 26-year-old has also added three assists for the club, accounting for his finest patch of form at Bayern since arriving on loan from Real Madrid in July. With the Bundesliga essentially secured, the club can look forward to the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals and UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with the assurance that James is again at the top of his craft — an advantage that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes.   

“In his current form, obviously James is a godsend for Bayern,” Heynckes told reporters on Monday. “It’s not easy, in another country with a different culture, a different mentality and he is doing very well, playing at a very high level, but he can do it better. 

“It was well known that James was no longer satisfied in Madrid. He didn’t get the time that such a player deserves, and then it is logical to get the player in. James is an instant hit. How he acts and integrates, how he laughs again and is relaxed. ... He has arrived and is happy in Munich.”

Jupp Heynckes is getting the best out of James Rodriguez. Photo: @TeamJR10 | Twitter

James could be forgiven for feeling a bit of schadenfreude when seeing Real Madrid’s struggles in La Liga this season. Real has had trouble finding consistency in its attack, and the decision to allow James to leave now looks baffling with the gift of hindsight. 

While the Colombian struggled initially under Carlo Ancelotti (along with the rest of the squad), he’s hitting his stride at the perfect moment for both Bayern and Colombia.

James and Bayern return to action on Tuesday with their DFB-Pokal quarterfinal match against third tier SC Paderborn. They then play Schalke on Saturday in a meeting between first and fifth in the Bundesliga.